Electrically-controlled railway switch



June 17 1924.

E. B. SPENZER ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED RAILWAY SWITCH iled Aug. 18. 1923 2 sham-sheet 1 INVENTOR. imam/EB. SPENZEI? June '17 1924. 1,498,223

E. B. SPENZER ELECTRIGALLY CONTROLLED RAILWAY SWITCH Filed Aug. 18 1923 2 Sheefis-Gheel 2 H v :z .3 k N Y N MVEN TOR. EUGENE i5. DPENZ/fffi Patented June 17, 1924.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' EUGENE B. SPENZER, OF CLEVELAND, O'HIO.

ELECTRICALLY-CONTROLLED RAILWAY swrroH.

Application filed August 18, 1923. Serial No. 658,045.

Railway Switches, of which the following.

is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I-have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

This invention relates to electrically controlled railway switches. More particularly it comprises a'solenoid and its associated means for turning the track switch of an electric railway, this solenoid being operated in the usual manner by the switching of the current on or off as the car goes over a contactor or breaker adjacent the location of said switch.

Switcheshifting mechanism heretofore in use has been unsatisfactory because of want of powerful action and inadequate looking or holding means.

The object of the invention is to simplify such mechanism and increase the power of the same by causing true toggle joint action and at the same time to make the latching or holding means more effective. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described andpointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of the switch-shift. ing mechanism; Fig. 2' is a side elevation thereof; and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 83 shown in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

As is clearly shown in the drawings, the solenoid 1, having windings in opposite directions upon each longitudinal half-section and a plunger or armature bar 2, is suitably disposed within a casing 3. Said casing is provided on onewall with a pair of apcrtured lugs 4 constituting a support for a pivoted lever arm 5. A two-part extensible rod 6 is connected by means of a pivot pin'7 with the free end of said lever arm and is pivotally supported by means of a pin 8 adapted to be seated in a notch 9 formedin a projecting rib 10 provided on the opposite side of said casing adjacent the path of motion of the plunger or armature bar. Said mechanism thus constitutes in effect a toggle lever.

The pivoted arm 5, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3, is provided on its underside with anextension 13 which may be formed integrally therewith. Said extension lies in a vertical planeadjacent its point of junction with the pivoted arm and then extends horizontally in parallel alignment with said pivoted member'5 and at its lower'end is connected by means'of a link 14 with the end of the armature or plunger 2. At an intermediate point of the pivoted arm 5, slightly outward from the point at which it is joined by the extension 13 heretofore referred to, a switch guide rod 15 is connected by means of a pivot pin 16. a

A vertical guide rib 17 may be formed on the bottom of the casing to serve as a support for the extension 13 and its associated parts.

The mechanism just described is intended to be operated by switch-controlling mech anism of standard type such as is disclosed in the patents to Cheatham, Nos. 696,313, March 25, 1902, and 7 87 ,827, April 18, 1905, which mechanism constitutes no part of the invention. Through such mechanism and proper control of the current on the electric car one of the windings of the solenoid is energized and the plunger is moved in a predetermined direction. the free end of the pivoted arm approaches dead center, it will cause the compression of the coil spring and as the motion of said plunger carries said free end past dead'center said coil spring will expand and. cause a rapid movement of the plunger and its associated parts to its extreme limit of motion, such action thus producing a snap action and holding the switch when thus shifted to its new position of adjustment. The reverse of this operationtakes place when the other winding of the solenoid is energized. 'Because of the toggle action of the mechanism a spring of relatively great power and positive action may be used. The plunger or armature is connected at the extreme end of the lever extension and a large mechanical advantage is thus sethe eehani m.

Other modes of applying the prineiple of my invention may beemployed instead of the one explained, change being made asregards the mechanism. herein disclosed provided the means stated'by any of the fol:-

lowing claims or the -eqnivalent of such stated means be employed.

aqtlyi laimresrmy n enti with an intermediate, part of; one of said o l l r w er pi t lly' aqtua ing aida toggle? mechar isne and. at switehcshiiting link eonneoted itonsaid itog g leig mechanis'm.

2. In an apparatus of the character describedia easingya lever arm pivoted to said casing a link-"on-neoting said lever to a 'shiitable switelrpoint, atwo-part extensible rod connectedto the end of said lever arm and piwotally supported upon the side of said casing opposite to the point of support of said lever. arm, andieonstitutingx \Vitllg-fiitld lever; arm; a: toggle emeehanism,

spring sur ounding ;tlie sections; 011;. said; -Xten mn rQct-and tendmgtospaee thesame;

pa t; n. ext nsiblearm oinsaid; lleveruarm;

and. actuating; means; eonneeted, with 7. said:

extensien ia mr:

Si-gQBdt-Zby k, 7-thiS:':1 1 day; 0ft; August, 923:- 1

I EUGENELB; SPENZERL. 

